Golf-practice apparatus



'June,9 I925. 1,541,420

G. H. LAMBERT GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed June 26. 1924 Patented June 9, 1925.

IEZD STATES GEORGE H. LAMBERT, on ASHEVILLE, non-TH CAROLiNA.

GOLF-PRACTICE, APPARATUS.

Application filed June 26,- 1924; Serial No. 722 516.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. LAMBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at lrsheville, in the county of Buncombe and tate ot-North Carolina, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Golf-Practice Apparatus, of which the tollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a practice apparatus for use of golfers in perfecting their game, the invention being particularly useful for ou't-of-do'or's practice.

Prior to this invention, itwas common to tether a golf ball and connect it with a teeing apparatus or other fixable element, so

that theball might be hit in the same way as it would be hitin actual play, with the difference that the tether would return the ball to the player at the end of the flight.

Devices of this sort have not been altogether satisfactorydue to a variety of causes, amongst them the liability of the snarling of the tether and also the inability to obtain a satisfactory return of the ball and its weight of tether when the ball is struck as hard as-in actual play.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide agol't practice apparatus which will adequately meet these and other conditions; and yet be reasonably simple, devoid of mechanism exposed to danger and of readyportability, so thatthe player; may take with him the apparatus conveniently and Without burden and quickly set it. up for practice in any part of the links or green, or elsewhere'.'

The invention consists of. a return spring mounted in a telescopic casing or hoi'isin'g, thecasing or its adjunctive parts being provided with a pin, preferably a stapleslilge pin, that may be readily driven into the ground as and where desired, the telescopic casing being pivotally connected with this pin so that the casing may rise and fall under the impetus of the stroke; the leash or tether and one endof the return spring being connected with the sliding section of the telescopic casing which moves with the spring, so that as the ball flies and the leash or tether follows it, the spring will expand until the force of the blow is expended, and then the spring will react and return the ball to the player and the sliding section of the casing to normal, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts aresimilarly designated, Figure '1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention and a player ready to make a stroke from a tee. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane of line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation.

The casing comprises a stationary member 1, of cylindrical or other appropriate form, and a movable member 2'telescopically fitted to the member 1. In the' member 1 is a block 3 pierced transversely at 4] to receivea staple-like pin 5- which may be bent to shape in position, and by means of itst'wo legs affording not only firm bilateral support for the apparatus to steady it in action and in line with play, and to'ensure its firm anchorage, but serving also as a pivot upon which the apparatus may rise and fall under the force" of the flight of the ball when struck and upon its return.

The movable member 2' is vprovided at its I outer end with a transverse pin 6 to which one end of a coiled spring 7 is secured, the other end of said spring being secured to, a bolt or other anchoring device 8 which is secured in the block 3 in adjusted position, the adjustme 'it being retained by nut 9 or other means; i

On the bolt 8 is arranged a stiff spring 10 which is located between spring 7 and the block 3,, and serves as arecoil'spring, to take up the shock of the spring 7 On the pin 6 is a yoke or loop 11 to' which is secured one end of the leash or tether 12, the other, end of the leash or tetlrer having secured 'to' it in any. suitable way a golf ball 13.

In using the apparatus, it. is anchored in the earth by the pin and the leash or tether laid out in any convenient manner, with the ball placed in position to be struck, care being, taken to lay out the leash or tether, in such way as to ensure. its jtollo'\v ing the ball without tendency to snarl The flight of the ball will carry the leash or tether taut and the spring 7 will yield sufliciently to acquire enough force or tension to return the ball when the ball has reached its limit of flight.

As is apparent, the sliding member 2 will follow the spring as it is put under tension by the flight of the ball, and this spring will return the sliding member upon the return of the ball and the shock or recoil will be taken up by the spring 10.

Thus a very compact and practical practice apparatus is provided of small compass and readily carried by the player and readily put in position for use.

As already indicated, the mounting of the telescopic member on its anchoring pin in a pivotal manner provides for the rising and falling. of the telescopic member as the ball is struck and as itreturns.

The use of the staple-like anchoring pin also serves to prevent the casing or housing from swinging sidewise and out of line when the ball is not hit true.

Making the casing or housing in telescoping sections also prevents wear at the mouth of the casing where the leash or tether is attached.

Variations in details of construction are permissible within the principle of the in vention and the spirit and scope of the claims following.

What I claim is 1. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball is suitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic casing or housing for the return sprin I 2. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball is suitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic casing or housing for the return spring, and an anchoring pin for said casing or housing.

3. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball is suitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic casing or housing for the return spring, and an anchoring pin for said casing or housing pivotally connected therewith to permit the casing or housing to rise and fall in play. i

4. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball is suitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic casing or housing for the return spring, and a staple-like anchoring pin connected with the casing or housing.

5. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball is suitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic easing or housing for the return spring, and a. recoil spring attached to the return spring within the said casing or housing.

6, A golf practice apparatus, comprising a tension spring, a bolt towhich it is connected, a fixed block in which the bolt is mounted, a recoil spring interposed between the block and the tension spring, and a telescopic casing or housing for the aforementioned parts.

7. A golf practice apparatus, comprising a return spring, a bolt to which it is connected, a fined block in which the bolt is mounted, a recoil spring interposed between the block and the return spring, and a telescopic casing or housing for the aforementioned parts, the return spring being secured at its leading end to the sliding member of the tel scopic casing or housing.

8. A golf practice apparatus, comprising a tension spring, a bolt to which it is con nected, a fixed block in which the bolt is mounted, a recoil spring interposed between the block and the tension spring, and a telescopic casing or housing for the aforementioned parts, the tension spring being secured at its leading end to the sliding member of the telescopic casing or housing, and an anchoring pin pivotally secured in the block and serving to fix the block in the casing or housing.

9. A golf practice apparatus, comprising a tension spring, a bolt to which it isconnected, a fixed block in which the bolt is mounted, a recoil spring interposed between the block and the tension spring, and a telescopic casing or housing for the aforementioned parts, the tension spring being secured at its leading end to the sliding member of the telescopic casing or housing, and a staple-like anchoring pin extending transversely throu h the block and the easlng member in whlch it is located and serving to unite the two and having pivotal connection with the block and easing. I

10. In a golf practice apparatus, in which the ball issuitably secured to a leash or tether and the latter secured to a return spring, a telescopic casing or housing for the return spring, and a staple-like anchoring pin pivotally connected with the casing or housing to permit an up and down pivotal movement of said casing or housing and prevent sidewise movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25 day of June A. D. 1924.

GEORGE H. LAMBERT.

lVitnesses LUoILLn E. FITZGERALD, HAT'rni LANCE, 

